Question map
Which one of the following Indian places receives minimum rainfall in a year?
Explanation
The distribution of rainfall in India is highly uneven, influenced by orography and distance from the sea. While western Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, is a well-known arid region receiving less than 20 cm of average annual rainfall [1], Leh in Ladakh represents a cold desert environment with even lower precipitation. Official records and geographical texts identify Leh as a primary area of low precipitation, often receiving less than 10 cm annually [2]. In contrast, New Delhi experiences a semi-arid steppe climate with moderate rainfall compared to desert regions, and Bengaluru, located on the Deccan plateau, receives significantly higher annual totals. Although western Rajasthan (including Jodhpur and Jaisalmer) is extremely dry, Leh's position in the rain shadow of the Himalayas makes it one of the driest inhabited places in India, consistently recording the minimum annual rainfall among the provided options [2].
Sources
- [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > VARIABILITY OF RAINFALL > p. 31
- [2] CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Climate > DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL > p. 32